Piston-ring tool



Sept. 2, 1930. J, H, MQE N 1,774,561

PISTON RING TOOL Filed April 9. 1929 JHZWae n I Q I new Patented Sept. 2,1939

PATENT ore ca JOHN H. MOEN, OF PAGE, NORTH DAKOTA PISTON-RING TOOL Application filed April 9, 1929.

This invention relates to aclass of tools and pertains particularly to a tool designed for facilitating the application and removal of piston rings of internal combustion engine pistons. V

r The primary object of the present invention is to provide a tool with which the ring may be firmly held at diametrically opposite points and by which the ends thereof may be engaged and spread or opened to enlarge the rings sufficiently to permit of its easy application to or removal from a piston body.

The invention broadly contemplates the provision of a tool comprising a'pair of pivotally connectedjaws, each of which has an arm or handle portion.

is pointed and is formed upon its outer face to receive one end of a piston ring. Each of the handles below the pivot point of the aw carries an arcuate arm which extends transversely of the tool to and beyond the opposite handle and each arm carries an elongated resilient arm which extends longitudinally of the tool and terminates at a point a substantial distance beyond the tips of the jaws where it is formed for partial engagement about a ring. When the resilient arms are engaged at opposite points of the rings with the pointed tips of the jaws between the ends thereof and the tool handles forced together. the tips are spread to open the ring and the resilient arms will be placed under tension to firmly grip and hold the ring from slipplug.

a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of the present invention with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawing but maybe changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark tures of the invention as expressed in the ing the same in use;

The tip of each j aw.

The invention will be best understood from no material departure from the'salient fea- Serial No. 353,831.

Figure 2 is-a sectional viewtaken upon the line 22 of Figure 1.

point of one jaw of the tool, the section being taken longitudinally thereof. 1 Referring to the drawing in detail wherein like numerals indicate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views, the numerals 1 and 2 indicate the jaws of the tool embodying the present invention which jaws, as shown, are relatively long and straight and are normally held in forwardly convergent relation and connected by the arcuate fins 3 carried thereby,which fins are arranged in overlapping relation and pivotally secured together by a bolt 4, as shown.

Each of the jaws land 2 has extending therefrom the curved handle 5 and each of these handles 5 carries, at a point a substantial distance below the pivotal point of the jaws, anarcuate arm 6. Each of these arms 6 is secured in a suitable manner, as for example, by having a lateral extension 7 at oneend which overlies the outer face of the handle to which it is attached and a bolt 8 extending-through the extension into the handle body, withthe concave side adjacent or facing the jaws. The free end of each arm 6 extends transversely of the tool across and beyond the-outer face of the adjacent handle where it has secured thereto one end of an elongated resilient arm 9 which extends forwardly in a line substantially parallel. with the longitudinal center of the tool to a point a substantial distance beyond the forward free endsof the jaws 1 and 2. The free end of each resilient arm 9 carries a pair of spaced inwardly extending wings lObetween which a piston ring positions when the tool is n use.

The free endof each of the aws 1 and 2 is cut obliquely, as shown,with the face of the obliquely 'cut. surface directed outwardly. Theouter V face of each of the pointed ends of the aws is provided with a recess 11 which is bounded at each side by a wall 12 forming a pocket in the jaw.v

Figure 3 is a detailed sectional view of the V The point-ed ends of the jaws 1 and 2 when inserted between the ends of a piston ring reso that when the jaws are spread lateral slipping of the ring ends will not occur, neither will the ends of the ring slip inwardly on the jaws.

hen the tool is placed in use, the piston ring here indicated by the numeral 13 is engaged at opposite sides by the end of the resilient arms 9 positioning between the pairs of wings of these arms. The pointed ends of the jaws l and are then slipped between the ends of the ring, in the manner shown, and the handles 5 forced together to swing the points of the aws apart. This action forces the ring open and at the same time spreads the lower ends of the resilient arms apart thus forcing the free ends thereof firmly against the ring at diametrically opposite points, as illustrated.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that with a tool of the character herein described, a piston ring, whether it be already upon piston or to be applied there to, may be readily engaged and opened. lVith the resilient arms 9 coacting to grip the ring at diametrically opposite points the same may be safely spread open by the pointed ends of the jaws without danger of the jaw points slipping from between the ends of the ring and also without danger of forcing the ring to the breaking point. It will be readily seen that with the present tool a ring may be easily handled, with one hand, by a mechanic.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A piston ring handling tool of the character described comprising a pair of pivotally associated jaw members designed for spreading the ends of a piston ring, and holding elements extending forwardly and at the sides of the jaws for engaging the ring at diametrically opposite points to prevent the ring from slipping.

2. A piston ring tool of the character described comprising a pair of shiftable members designed for insertion between the ends of apiston ring and each formed to receive one end, and resilient elements associated with said shiftable members and designed for coaction to grip a ring from opposite sides, said resilient elements being each carried by said shiftable members and coacting one with the other for the increase of their gripping action upon the ring when the shiftable members are actuated to open said ring.

3. A piston ring tool comprising apair of pivotally connected pointed jaw members each having a handle, said jaw members at their points being formed for insertion between the ends of a piston ring and to receive such ends, and a resilient arm carried by each of said handles and extending longitudinally of the tool to a point beyond said jaw ends said resilient arms being formed at their free ends to receive a piston ring therebetween.

4. A piston ring tool comprising a pair of pivotally connected pointed jaw members each having av handle, said jaw members at their points being formed for insertion between the ends of a piston ring and to receive such ends, and a resilient arm carried by each of said handles and extending longitudinally of the tool to a point beyond said j aw ends, said resilient arms being formed at th ir free ends to receive a piston ring therebetween, said resilient arms being so connected to their carrying handles as to be spread apart at their inner ends upon the opening of said jaws to force the free ends thereof together.

5. A piston ring openin tool, comprising a pair of pivotally connected jaw members each having a tapered working end adapted for extension between the contacting ends of a split piston ring, the opposing faces of said working ends being flat to the tips thereof, the outer faces of the said ends each being provided with an outwardly opening pocket for the reception of an end of a ring, and means carried by the jaw members for engaging the sidcs of a ring forwardly of said j aw members.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

JOHN H. MQEN. 

